For aviation, the relief proposal addresses ground-handling services – authorising the extension of contracts to avoid complex tenders, and allowing concessions that will prevent airports from getting blocked should ground-handling companies go bankrupt. The proposal also modifies air carrier licensing rules temporarily to ease financial problems linked to the coronavirus.

A proposal to amend the regulation on port charges will give Member States and port authorities the flexibility to defer, reduce or lift port infrastructure charges for port users, if they so wish. This will provide shipping companies, including those operating ferries, with much-needed liquidity.

For rail, the Commission is proposing to extend by three months the deadline by which some Member States must transpose EU law on rail safety and interoperability. The delay will ensure the sector has legal clarity, and can focus its time and resources on coronavirus recovery.

The Commission has also responded positively to requests from 11 Member States for temporary exemption from EU rules on driving times and rest periods that they have put in place. The exemption will provide drivers the flexibility they need to keep goods moving around Europe, even if they encounter queues at border crossings, reduced access to rest and sanitary facilities along the network. A further nine Member States have now also requested temporary exemption, and will receive a positive decision in the coming weeks.

Other proposals will follow today's package, providing additional relief to the transport sector. With all of the measures, from those easing the regulatory burden to those reducing costs, the Commission intends to ensure that no market player must carry more than its fair share of the burden created by the pandemic. The EU’s entire transport sector must emerge strong from coronavirus to help get the economy moving once again.

Proposals

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific and temporary measures in view of COVID-19 outbreak and concerning the validity of certain certificates, licences and authorisations and the postponement of certain periodic checks and training in certain areas of transport legislation

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/352, so as to enable managing bodies or competent authorities to provide flexibility in respect of the levying of port infrastructure charges in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) N° 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community in view of the COVID-19 pandemic

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2016/797 and Directive (EU) 2016/798, as regards the extension of their transposition period